Delay systems and methods using a variable delay SINC filter

ABSTRACT

A delay system includes a first filter configured for receiving a selected input signal and a first mechanism for activating the first filter to produce a delayed output signal which is a function of a selected input signal. The delay system further includes a second filter configured for receiving a signal from said first filter to apply an additional delay to the signal received by said first filter, and a second mechanism for activating the second filter to produce a delayed signal which is a function of a signal received from the first filter. The delay system further comprises a divider system for tracking times from a clock reference. The delay system implements a method of delaying a received signal by sampling a selected signal with a predetermined clock signal and producing the selected signal at a time delayed to the extent of a comparison of a reduced frequency clock with a predetermined value. The method further includes further delaying production of the selected signal with a second comparison utilizing a second predetermined value of a further reduced frequency clock.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/484,128 filed on Jan. 15, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,634, entitled“DELAY SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING A VARIABLE DELAY SINC FILTER”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to power and energy measurement systems andmethods, and more particularly to single phase bi-directional power andenergy systems and methods which are configured on a singlesemiconductor chip.

2. Description of the Related Art

Power and energy measurement systems of many kinds are well-known. Manyof such systems are electromechanical. Many of such systems areinaccurate. Some of such systems consume excessive power.

There is a need for accurate power and energy measurement systems havingenhanced functionality, which are nonetheless inexpensive and whichconsume reduced energy levels to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, phase compensation is implementedwith a reduced number of registers. According to the present invention,a SINC filter is used to provide a selectable variable delay. Accordingto one embodiment of the present invention, a SINC filter includes firstand second stages. A first stage includes an integrator operating at ahigh signal sampling rate. The output of the integrator is connected toa differentiator or a comb, which operates at a lower rate of signalsampling. According to one embodiment of the present invention, theintegrator sampling rate is at least twice the differentiator or combsampling rate. The time of sampling by the comb is controlled by acomparator output, which actuates when the content of a writeableregister, written to/from a controller, is equal to the output of adivide counter. The divide counter is the second stage of a dividersystem including first and second divide-by-eight dividers.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a power and energymeasurement system of enhanced accuracy performs a plurality offunctions including energy and power measurement, root mean squarevoltage and root mean square current determination, and energy topulse-rate conversion. The measurement system has reduced powerconsumption and an interface which is optimized for operation with ashunt sensor. The measurement system includes a phase compensationsystem and operates with ground-referenced signals and a single powersupply. The system further has a calibration system including a featurefor providing a settable offset useful for determining power levelcalculations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multifrequency filter delay systemaccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of a multifrequencyfilter delay system according to the present invention, whichestablishes delays with the use of an extensive register mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODES OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram a delay system 99 which works with a microprocessoror controller 108 according to one embodiment of the present invention.The controller 108 is used to set or modify register values whichprovide respective coarse and fine delay settings for a selected inputsignal, as will be discussed. According to one embodiment of the presentinvention, the delay system 99 includes a SINC filter 100 (or any otherkind of filter), a divider system 101, and a finite impulse response(FIR) filter or an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter 102. The SINCfilter 100 is included in delay system 99 to provide a selectablyvariable delay amount to an input signal which is to be delayed. Thedivider system 101 according to one embodiment includes first and seconddividers 103 and 104. The delay system 99 further includes a thirddivider 105, a first comparator 106, a first register connected tocomparator 106, with the microprocessor 108 connected to register 107.Additionally, delay system 99 includes a second comparator 116 and asecond register 117, with the microprocessor 108 connected to the secondregister 117. The divider 103 is optionally provided with an associatedcomparator and register (not shown), analogous to the comparator 106 andregister 107, if a finer adjustment is needed for this stage of signalprocessing.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the SINC filter100 includes first and second stages, an integrator 121 and adifferentiator or comb 122 connected to the integrator 121 at its outputterminal. The first stage integrator 121 operates at a high sample rate.The output of the integrator 121 is connected to the differentiator 122which operates at a lower rate of signal sampling. According to oneembodiment of the present invention, the integrator sampling rate inthis implementation is 64 times the differentiator or comb samplingrate. The time of sampling by the comb 122 is controlled by a comparatoroutput from comparator 106, which actuates when the content of awriteable register 107, written to/from the controller or microprocessor108, is equal to the output of a divide counter 104. The divide counter104 is the second stage of a divider system including respective firstand second divide-by-eight dividers 103 and 104. The time of sampling bythe FIR/IIR filter 102 is controlled by the output from comparator 116,which actuates when the content of register 117 written to/fromcontroller or microprocessor 108, is equal to the output of the thirddivide counter 105. According to one embodiment of the presentinvention, the second register 117 is a single bit register. Accordingto one embodiment, the SINC filter 100 provides a fine delay, and theFIR/IIR filter 102 provides a coarse adjustment delay amount.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a phase compensation delay cellsystem 699 for a digital signal received at a first frequency, whichcomprises a bit stream from a modulator (not shown), according to thepresent invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention,the phase compensation delay cell system 699 is implemented in a voltagechannel. In particular, the phase compensation delay cell system 699includes a first delay cell 701 and a sinc filter 702 connected to theoutput terminal of the first delay cell 701. The first delay cell 701permits the application of a selected incremental delay amount to aninput signal received, for example, from a delta sigma analog to digitalconverter at its particular frequency. The selected delay amount isdetermined by engaging selected delay elements in the first delay cell701. The phase compensation delay cell system 699 further includes adecimation element 703 which is effected as part of the sinc filter 702according to one embodiment of the present invention, even though it isshown as a separate element in the Figure. The decimation element 703reduces the signal frequency by a factor of 64, according to oneembodiment.

The phase compensation delay cell system 699 further includes a seconddelay cell 704, and a finite impulse response filter 705, allinterconnected in series in a voltage channel. The first delay cell 701includes a plurality of delay elements 740-743 and a selector element ormultiplexer 744. The selector element 744 chooses a delayed version ofthe input signal from a delta sigma analog to digital converter forexample and issues this signal at output terminal Y1. The delay amountprovided by the first delay cell is a function of which signal lineD1-D8 is selected by selector 744 according to a selection input S,where B2-B0 are programmable input signals to select desired amounts ofdelay from a zero delay to a cumulative delay of eight delay elements.When line D7 is selected, the delay amount represents an 8 clock delay.At a first frequency f at which the input signal is provided, this isequivalent to a delay of d1=(8)(k1)/f, where k1 is the numerical valuecontained in the input signal(s) B2-B0. Each register is a single 8-bitelement, since the data comes directly from the modulator. With theseregisters according to one embodiment, the total register bit spacerequired is 56 bits.

The second delay cell 704 includes a single delay element 747 and aselector element or multiplexer 748. The selector element 748 chooses adelayed version of the signal from decimator 704 and passes/issues thissignal at output terminal Y2. The actual delay amount provided by thesecond delay cell is a function of which signal line 08-09 that isselected by selector 748 according to a selection input signal B3bar,where B3bar is the complement of a bit value B3 and determines whetherto apply a predetermined delay amount to an input signal or to apply nodelay amount at all. By use of the input signal B3bar, the amount ofdelay is programmable, as by microcontroller or microprocessor input,for example, to select desired amounts of delay from a zero delay to atotal delay amount corresponding to a single delay element 747.

When B3bar is selected (e.g., B3bar =“high”), the time delay amountrepresents a single predetermined delay amounting to a coarse delayselection. The output signal at terminal Y2 is then transmitted to afinite impulse register 705 which produces an output digital value fromthe finite impulse register 705. Because the signal frequency is reducedby decimation element 703, for example, by a factor of 64 or anotherpower of 2, a delay increment which can be produced by activation ofdelay cell 704 is greater (i.e., coarser) than a delay increment whichcan be produced by the first delay cell 701. Accordingly, fine delayadjustment increments are effected by programming the first delay cell701 through the selector 744 by properly coding bit combinations forB2-B0. A single coarse adjustment can be made by the second delay cell704 by engaging or disengaging time delay element 747. With these firstand second delay cells 701 and 704, a selected signal channel such as,for example, a voltage channel, can be provided with controllable delayamounts for digital signals communicated upon the signal channel. Thedelay amounts can be controlled in terms of coarse and fine adjustments,with the fine adjustments being made at a higher signal frequency, andthe coarse adjustments being made at a lower signal frequency.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A delay system operable with a microprocessor orcontroller, the delay system comprising: a first filter configured forreceiving a selected portion of an input signal; and a first mechanism,including a microprocessor, for activating the filter to produce adelayed output signal which is a function of the selected portion of theinput signal, the first mechanism being settable to produce apredetermined delay according to an input from the microprocessor,wherein said first mechanism further comprises a first comparator and afirst register connected to said first comparator.
 2. The delay systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is configured to setor modify register values which provide at least one of a coarse delaysetting and a fine delay setting for the selected portion of the inputsignal to be delayed.
 3. The delay system according to claim 1, whereinsaid first filter is a SINC filter.
 4. The delay system according toclaim 1, wherein said first mechanism includes a divider system forcounting the passage of time from sampling, according to a reduced clockrate.
 5. The delay system according to claim 1, further comprising asecond filter configured for receiving a signal from said first filterand applying an additional selected delay to the signal received by saidfirst filter.
 6. The delay system according to claim 5, furthercomprising a second mechanism for activating said second filter toproduce a delayed signal which is a function of the signal received fromsaid first filter.
 7. The delay system according to claim 6, whereinsaid second mechanism is settable to produce a predetermined signaldelay according to the input from the microprocessor.
 8. The delaysystem according to claim 5, wherein said second filter is a filterselected from a group including a finite impulse response (FIR) filterand an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter.
 9. The delay systemaccording to claim 3, wherein said SINC filter is configured to providea selectably variable delay amount to a selected input.
 10. The delaysystem according to claim 1, further comprising a divider system fordividing an input clock signal to produce a reduced clock rate.
 11. Thedelay system according to claim 10, wherein said divider system includesfirst and second dividers.
 12. The delay system according to claim 6,wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism determine theselected input signal by taking a pre-determined, time sample of theinput from the microprocessor and wherein an amount of the predetermineddelay depends on an amplitude of the pre-determined, time sample. 13.The delay system according to claim 6, wherein said second mechanismcomprises a divider for dividing an input clock signal to produce areduced clock rate.
 14. The delay system according to claim 13, whereinsaid second mechanism comprises a second comparator and a secondregister connected to said second comparator.
 15. The delay systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said first filter includes first andsecond stages.
 16. The delay system according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst filter includes an integrator and a differentiator connected tothe integrator at an output terminal of the integrator.
 17. The delaysystem according to claim 15 wherein said first stage operates at ahigher signal sampling rate than said rate of said second stage.
 18. Thedelay system according to claim 17, wherein said second stage operatesat a lower signal sampling rate than said rate of said first stage. 19.The delay system according to claim 18, wherein said second stage has asampling time controlled by an output signal from a first comparator.20. The delay system according to claim 19, further comprising a dividecounter, wherein said first comparator actuates when the contents of awriteable register, written to/from said microprocessor, is equal to theoutput signal of the divide counter.
 21. The delay system according toclaim 20, further comprising a register and a second divide counter,wherein the time of sampling by said second filter is controlled by anoutput signal from a comparator which actuates when the contents of theregister, written to/from said microprocessor, is equal to the output ofthe second divide counter.
 22. The delay system according to claim 5,wherein said first filter provides a selectable fine delay and saidsecond filter provides a selectable coarse delay.
 23. The delay systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the first mechanism determines theselected portion of the input signal by taking a pre-determined, timesample of the input from the microprocessor and wherein an amount of thepredetermined delay depends on an amplitude of the pre-determined, timesample.
 24. A delay system comprising: a first filter configured toreceive a selected part of an input signal; a first mechanism, includinga microprocessor, for activating the filter to produce a delayed outputsignal which is a function of the selected part of the input signal, thefirst mechanism being settable to produce a predetermined delayaccording to the input from the microprocessor; a second filterconfigured to receive a signal from said first filter and to apply anadditional delay to the signal received by said first filter; a secondmechanism for activating said second filter to produce a delayed signalwhich is a function of the signal received from said first filter; and adivider system for tracking times from a reference timer, where at leastone tracked time is used to trigger at least a single filter to producea delayed output signal.
 25. The delay system according to claim 24,wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism determine theselected part of the input signal by taking a pre-determined, timesample of the input from the microprocessor and wherein an amount of thepredetermined delay depends on an amplitude of the pre-determined, timesample.
 26. The delay system according to claim 24, wherein said firstand second filters provide respective first and second delays in theselected part of the input signal.
 27. A method of delaying a receivedsignal, comprising: sampling a selected portion of a received signalwith a predetermined clock signal; producing the selected portion of thereceived signal at a time that is delayed to the extent of a comparisonof a reduced frequency clock with a predetermined value; and delayingproduction of said selected portion of the received signal with a secondcomparison with a second predetermined value of a further reducedfrequency clock whose frequency is reduced relative to said frequency ofsaid reduced frequency clock.
 28. A delay system operable with amicroprocessor or controller, the delay system comprising: a firstfilter configured for receiving a selected portion of an input signal;and a first mechanism, including a microprocessor, for activating thefilter to produce a delayed output signal which is a function of theselected portion of the input signal, the first mechanism being settableto produce a predetermined delay according to an input from themicroprocessor; and wherein said first filter includes first and secondstages and said first stage operates at a higher signal sampling ratethan said rate of said second stage.
 29. A delay system operable with amicroprocessor or controller, the delay system comprising: a firstfilter configured for receiving a selected portion of an input signal;and a first mechanism, including a microprocessor, for activating thefilter to produce a delayed output signal which is a function of theselected portion of the input signal, the first mechanism being settableto produce a predetermined delay according to an input from themicroprocessor; and a second filter configured for receiving a signalfrom said first filter and applying an additional selected delay to thesignal received by said first filter; and wherein said first filterprovides a selectable fine delay and said second filter provides aselectable coarse delay.